Academic or politician? Who should be the next FAU president?

Frank Brogan is going to be a hard act to follow, but Florida Atlantic University trustees are working today on defining the qualities they’d like to see in a successor.

These things are usually pretty easy to predict _ experienced, enthusiastic, ability to raise money, good relationship with faculty… you get the gist.

But with Brogan, the debate was always about how he didn’t have a doctorate and whether that put him at a disadvantage at running a university.

So, part of the discussion today will be whether politics or academics should be the defining characteristic of FAU’s next president.

Board Chairwoman Nancy Blosser said a few moments ago that an academician would be a good choice.

“I think that universities go through cycles and we just went through a cycle with a very non traditional president,” Blosser said. “I have a feeling that maybe it’s time to cycle through something tha tis more toward the academic side.”